Families of Royal Irish Constabulary officers commemorate lives lost

Organised by The Police Roll of Honour Trust, officials from the charity and family members paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of RIC officers who served from the inception of the force until it was disbanded in 1922.

Vice-chair of the Police Roll of Honour Trust, John Giblin, said: “Today’s service notably took place in the centenary year of the disbandment of the RIC in London, the home of the Police UK Roll of Remembrance, which is on display at the National Police Memorial in The Mall.

“The Police Roll of Honour Trust maintains the roll, which is a record of all police officers who have lost their lives on and in the line of duty throughout the UK.

“Family members came together from near and far to reflect and share memories – it was a poignant service, and we are grateful to all who joined the congregation and took part in the proceedings.”

During the service, three wreaths were dedicated and later laid privately by a small contingent at Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the National Police Memorial.

Family descendants, some whose loved ones served in the 1800s, gave readings, including Jim Herlihy, a retired Garda officer, an Irish Police historian and great-grandson of an RIC constable; Finola Sullivan, the great granddaughter of John Teehan, an RIC sergeant; and Maria Byrne and David Hardy, who is the great, great grandson of Harry Hardy, who was the first bandmaster of the RIC band in Dublin from 1861 to 1872.

A lament was played by pipers as silence was kept before prayers from Eamon Grogan, whose three uncles served in the RIC.

Mary O’Neill said a prayer for world peace, especially that of Ukraine. She is the granddaughter of James Collery, who was a sergeant in the RIC, having joined in 1897.

Colm B Mooney added: “My maternal grandfather, Constable Bartholemew Cahillane, was a member of the RIC. Today was a fitting tribute, not only my grandfather, but many of my fellow countrymen whose service inspired policing in so many countries.”

The Police Roll of Honour Trust said it ensures that police officers’ service and sacrifice is never forgotten, with their names “forever enshrined in the book of remembrance at the National Police Memorial”.

The Trust was formed in March 2000, as a registered charity and later incorporated by Royal Charter, to provide a record of all those police officers who have lost their lives ‘on and in the line of duty’, since the earliest of times throughout the UK, and Ireland up until 1922.

It commemorates their sacrifice in public service and provides a focal point and visible means for family and friends to reflect on the loss of their loved ones and to know that their loss is not forgotten. There are more than 5,000 deaths listed in the ‘Roll of Honour’. In 2015 the Trust published a book listing all of those who died, known as the ‘UK Police Roll of Remembrance’.